Solar energy plane completes maiden intercontinental trip
Source: Reuters
Solar energy plane completes maiden intercontinental trip
Reuters
guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 6 June 2012 11.17 BST
A solar energy plane landed in Morocco on Tuesday, completing the world's first intercontinental flight powered by the sun to show the potential for renewable-energy air travel.
The Solar Impulse took off from Madrid at 0322 GMT on Tuesday and landed at Rabat's International airport after a 19-hour flight. Shortly before Swiss pilot Bertrand Piccard landed in Rabat's airport, the project co-founder and pilot Andre Borschberg said the aircraft has proved its sustainability.
"The aircraft can now fly day and night. It's quite a show ... It's a technology we can trust," he told reporters.
Piccard descended from the plane, smiling as he was greeted by Borshberg and Mustafa Bakkoury, the head of Morocco's solar energy agency.
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Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2012/jun/06/solar-energy-plane-intercontinental
